REGULAR 1:1 CARE WITH DR. RACHEL

You deserve to have the energy to show up for your life. In my experience, a real transformation in the level of your health and vitality is best supported by regular, personal care with a provider you trust. It means engaging all aspects of your being—physical, emotional and spiritual—in decision-making and creative solutions. In practice, that looks like:

1. A Comprehensive Intake: You’ll begin your health journey by meeting with me for a thorough 60-minute intake on your overall health. We’ll discuss your well-being in all areas, with a focus on creating health strategies that work in your life. For all medical concerns, we’ll discuss potential avenues for treatment that include both conventional and holistic modalities, from lifestyle change to herbal and supplement therapy, from cutting edge therapies to prescription medication. My goal is always to assist you in healing from within, and to limit the number of supplements or medications that you need to take.

2. Follow-Up and Ongoing Care: With your membership, you also receive two 30-minute follow-up visits annually, to review subsequent testing, refine strategies, and track your transformation. You can schedule as many supplementary follow-up visits as you like for an additional fee. Dr. Rachel is also available for private messaging through your patient portal.

3. An Expert Health Strategist: In addition to the comprehensive care you’ll receive directly from me, I’ll also serve as the “quarterback” of your healthcare team (including acupuncturists, chiropractors, and specialists). As the team quarterback, I’ll review recommendations from other practitioners and help you decide what’s worth your time and money.  I can also help you find specialists or treatment options that you weren’t aware of. You’ll still need to have a primary care physician for emergencies, routine medication refills, and routine health screening. I’ll work with you and your primary care doctor on any health needs that arise.

MONTHLY 90-MINUTE VIRTUAL GROUP MEDICAL VISITS

I believe that groups are the most fertile place for transformation to take place. In addition to my medical practice, I have decades of experience in teaching groups, including leading many retreats at Esalen, Blue Spirit and other retreat centers around the globe. I’ve seen that when people drop into a safe container of trust, something magical happens. Group work offers an opening that can cause big leaps in wellness and transformation.

But don’t just take my word for it: Working in groups is the medicine of the future. A recent paper by the National Academy of Medicine on Whole Health recommends a new model of patient care for major medical providers. Essential to this medical model of the future? Gathering patient groups for healing.

The format:

You will be invited to 12 monthly 90-minute Zoom medical and coaching sessions covering the most important health topics. We will begin each session with an informational talk and then Dr. Rachel will answer questions from the group and facilitate a discussion. By discovering how we face many similar health challenges, we can learn from others and heal together. Participation in the group session is voluntary, though highly recommended. The initial teachings in each Zoom meeting will be recorded for future listening by members who cannot make the group sessions or prefer not to participate. A group discussion platform is available to members only, for ongoing mutual support. 

If you bill your insurance, these can be billed as medical appointments. (See: Can I bill my insurance?)   

Topics for our community sessions will depend on the interests of the group but may likely include:

• The central importance of digestion and gut health

• Increasing my healthspan and longevity

• Optimal eating and nutrition

• Movement, exercise and joyful physical expression

• Restorative sleep

• Hormone health and balance throughout our lifetimes

• Healthy sexuality and how to stay sexually alive throughout our lifetime

• Integrative approaches to anxiety and depression

• The How-To’s of an Integrative approach to Chronic illnesses, such as High Blood Pressure; Allergy, Asthma and Lung disease; Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue; Fibromyalgia; Long-COVID; Chronic Pain; Autoimmune diseases—as are relevant for our group

• Cutting edge prevention and treatment of 

  • Cardiovascular disease

  • Cancer

  • Diabetes

• Enhancing cognitive function and preventing dementia

• Healthy relationships, including marriage/committed partnerships, parenting and friendship

• Ketamine and other psychedelics as therapeutic agents of change

• Wearable health trackers for sleep, blood sugar, heart rate variability, etc (We can explore the use of these together and follow up on what we have learned!)

PSYCHEDELIC SUPPORT FOR SHIFTING PATTERNS

Often, we know what we need to do to be healthy, but each of us has blocks (both structural and psychological) that prevent us from actually doing it. We have psychological blocks for reasons that we may or may not understand. Psychedelic medicine, such as ketamine, can be extremely helpful in facilitating the identification of our psychological blocks and helping us to create new patterns of thinking or feeling that help us have greater clarity and make different choices in our lives.

Ketamine has been used medically since 1970. Ketamine is currently being used as a research-proven treatment for treatment-resistant depression and anxiety, as well as chronic pain. Ketamine is used similarly to the psychedelics currently in phase III trials, such as MDMA and psilocybin (magic mushrooms).

It’s given in personalized doses under physician supervision to safely alter consciousness and promote healing. It can help shift recurrent brain patterns that perpetuate worry, anxiety, guilt, shame and sadness. For many people, 1-5 sessions can significantly change the perception of issues that have been stuck. This aspect of the program is a completely optional extra investment, only for interested patients.

The format:

For the greatest benefit to patients, ketamine sessions are offered as a package of treatment that protects, surrounds and expands the efficacy of the ketamine experience. A ketamine treatment consists of:

• 1 hour preparation and screening visit for first time users (30 minutes for repeat sessions).

• 3-4 hour in-person ketamine session, including integration counseling.

• 1 hour integration session, within 1-2 days following the ketamine session (can be virtual or in-person).

Pricing:

• First ketamine session with Dr. Rachel: $2500

• Follow up ketamine sessions with Dr. Rachel: $2000

• State-of-the-art health screening based on family history and genetics

• Reviewing and optimizing of all current medications, supplements, and treatments

• Exploring integrative approaches to improve existing chronic health conditions

• A detailed analysis of hormone balancing for females, males and all genders at all life stages

• An exploration of optimal health, including a vibrant sexual life, joyful physical movement, and maintaining long-term strength and flexibility

• Review of the most up-to-date approaches to longevity and disease prevention and how to integrate these into your life most easily

• Diet and nutrition review and how to customize these for your personal goals

• Exploring the impact of your lifestyle on your mental health (sleep, nutrition, movement, meditation/prayer, stress reduction)

• Assessing your mental clarity and the quality of your attention and finding out how best to support your mental focus

• Developing life-long skills and strategies that prevent and treat cognitive decline and dementia

• Supportive exploration of your early experience and how it affects your relationships

• Assessment of your emotional life and how it impacts your health and quality of life

• Coaching on the art and science of committed relationships

• Treating anxiety, depression, and other psychological conditions with a full integrative approach, including sleep, exercise, herbs, supplements, embodiment practices, therapy, meditation, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and other emerging treatments

• Coaching on how to cultivate your sex life and sexual energy, drawing on my expertise in the area of sexual medicine and Taoist sexuality

• Addressing low libido, sexual dysfunction, sexual trauma, and other sexual challenges from an integrative, and trauma-informed approach

• Using Taoist sexual practices and energy work for physical vitality, expanded creativity, and spiritual development

• Finding more joy and hope in the face of life’s inevitable challenges

• Helping to rewrite the stories you tell yourself about your life

• Exploring how a sense of meaning is essential to our health and longevity and helping you find a greater sense of purpose in your life

• Strengthening your relationships with your family, friends and community

• Discovering the spiritual practices and traditions that are meaningful to you and help support your overall wellbeing

Because Dr. Rachel committed to giving her patients truly comprehensive and transformational care, she is only treating patients within the program at this time. She continues to teach publicly throughout the year and if you are on her mailing list and Facebook or Instagram pages, you will hear about those opportunities!

In addition to the initial comprehensive health intake, the two follow up visits, and the monthly group medical appointments, members are welcome to schedule additional follow-up visits with Dr. Rachel at the rates below. Urgent appointments are given priority and will often be scheduled within a few days, and almost always within 1 week. In-person appointments are available when Dr. Rachel is in Santa Cruz at the Santa Cruz Integrative Medicine Clinic and via Zoom when she is travelling. Zoom visits are always an option for patients who prefer them. Because she is licensed in the state of California, patients must be in the state of California during their Zoom medical visits.

• 60 min follow up appointments: $500

• 30 min follow up appointments: $275

Dr. Rachel’s services, including all appointments and the monthly group medical visit, can be billed to your medical insurance via superbills. Dr. Rachel is a non-preferred provider for all private insurance. It is not possible to bill Medicaid (MediCal), Medicare, Tricare, Kaiser or any HMO insurance. Note that insurance reimbursement rates vary widely and are particular to each insurance policy. In your policy, look for the deductible amount and then the reimbursement rate for “out of network” health care. You can use your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for all services and prescribed supplements.

If you bill your visits to insurance via superbill, or use an HSA or FSA, the services above are valued at:

• 60 min comprehensive health intake and record review: $800

• Two 30-min follow-up visits: $600

• Twelve 90 min group Zoom medical visits (must be present): $3600

• Total: $5000 (can be billed to insurance)

Please note: The actual amount reimbursed by insurance will vary depending on your insurance plan.

It’s an investment in taking your health seriously. How much are current medical conditions costing you in fatigue, lack of focus, or lack of vitality? What might be possible over the next 30 years if you get the best possible care?

A number of membership spots will be heavily discounted or free. I am looking to support people working in the areas of economic justice, environment and global warming, anti-racism, healthy and equitable food systems, elder and family care, educational reform, criminal justice reform or other areas of our world in need of love and change. These folks will be ready to get health support, so that they can do their work in the world with less sacrifice of their well-being. Please let me know if you or someone you know would like to be considered for this membership discount.

Dr. Rachel will provide:

• Comprehensive intake and creation of a health plan.

• Ordering and interpreting of labs and other testing.

• Recommending lifestyle interventions (nutrition, exercise, meditation, community building) and supplements, herbs, medication, surgery or other interventions as needed.

• Strategizing on how to easily incorporate these changes into your busy life.

• Verifying that all standard health screening has been done and recommending more intensive health prevention screening when necessary.

• Sourcing and accessing excellent specialists for specialty consultations, when needed—from surgery and oncology to Traditional Chinese Medicine and osteopathy.

• Looking comprehensively at your health needs and your current care providers and strategizing an overall plan to help you reach your goals.

• Communication with you regularly in the patient portal.

• Quick access for visits (in person or virtual) when the need arises.

• Communication with your primary care doctor if you would like.

Your primary care doctor will provide:

• Emergency and urgent visits for acute illnesses when Dr. Rachel is unavailable for an in-person visit.

• Routine health screening visits (pap smear, mammogram, colon cancer screening, etc).

• Prescription of routine medications.

Dr. Rachel has been a family practice doctor for over 25 years and has a wide variety of experience with human illness and recovery. She is no longer providing care for children, but does treat teenagers, 14 and up, and everyone else! Here are some of the common illnesses she cares for in her Transformational Medical practice:

• Hypertension

• Pre-Diabetes and Diabetes

• Thyroid Disease

• Cardiovascular Disease and Its Reversal (atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmias—treated integratively in association with a cardiologist)

• Arthritis, both autoimmune (Rheumatoid, Lupus, Psoriatic, etc.) and osteoarthritis

• Gastrointestinal issues (ulcer, poor digestion, irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, gas and bloating, small intestinal bowel overgrowth, gallbladder stones, chronic diarrhea or constipation, inflammatory bowel disease)

• Heavy menstrual flow

• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

• Perimenopause and menopause (She teaches on this subject to other physicians)

• Hormone replacement

• Chronic urinary tract or vaginal infections

• Sexual challenges (low libido, difficulty with orgasm, erectile dysfunction, etc.)

• Cancer, treated integratively in association with a cancer team (oncology, surgery, radiation oncology, etc)

• Eczema and psoriasis

• Thyroid dysfunction

• Headaches, including migraine

• Chronic Fatigue (including Long COVID and adrenal dysfunction)

• Allergy (seasonal allergies and food allergies and sensitivities)

• Anxiety and Depression treated integratively (when significant, in association with therapists and/or a psychiatrist)